Concrete-mixer.



K. R. SOHUSTEB. CONCRETE MIXER.

APPLICATION IILED APR.25,1914.

1,11 1,974. Patented Sept.29,1914.

3SHEETS-SHBET 1.

Pf. C. W KarZJZ.Schu5ter I "ran/15y;

K. R. SGHUSTER,

CONCRETE MIXER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1914.

1 1 1 1,974. Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' Br 7/2, fi. l I l i o arramvsrs iii ' mixtures of. the ingredients areeffected by facture.

ii E STATES PT NT. OFFICE.

KARL It. SCHUSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONCEETEJQZ'KER.

L111 31 @711 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 29, 1914Application flied at, 1-914. Serial No. asaass. To all whom it mayconcern: period; and means are provided for distrib- Be it known that I,KARL R. Scrmsrna, a citizen of the United States, residing in the cityof New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Concrete-Mixer, or whichthe following is a I specification.

This invention is a concrete mixer characterized by important advantagesover 1 machines common in the art, wherein the uting the agitating fluidin different directrons at the bottom of the container.-

ihe machine is especially well adapted for mining concrete, the coarseaggregate of The fluid pipe and valve cannot become obstructed by stonesor other large pieces which may find their way into the container. Themachine is so simple that the possibility of break downs is vc 1 remote,and it is economical of manufacture. I An important advantage is theavailabilaty ot' steam, or other heated gas, as the agitating. agent,whereby the materials are heated to a certain extentsimultaneously withthe mixture thereof. This makes it practicable to make concrete in lowtemperatures andduring cold weather, in which respect the ordinarymechanical mixers are useless.

()ther featuresa-nd advantages of the invention will appear in thecourse of the following detailed. description.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevastirring them mechanically.

The objects in view are to expedite the operation of mixing theconstituent parts of concrete or other materials; to thoroughly combinethe materials; to enable the mix operation to be carried on successfullyduring cold Weather; to facilitate the rations of charging the materialsinto ti nachine and of discharging the resulting mixture therefrom; andto simplify the structure to the end that it is durable and e'fiicientin operation and economical of menu- Broadly stated, the inventionembodies a tiltable container equipped with means for supplying air, gasor steam, to the interior thereof, whereby the constituents of theconcrete or other mass are agitated by the pressure of aeriform fluid,said container being movable bodily to one position for receiving thematerials and being movable, also, to another and different position fordischarg-' ing the mixed mass.

In addition to the novel structure thus briefly outlined, the mixer ischaracterized by the use of several important features, viz :'The meansfor supplying air, steam or I gas to-the container are movable with saidcontainer so as to be normally in operative relation thereto; the flowof the fluid is controlled by a normally closed valve which is openedautomatically when the container is I full lines illustrating the mixingposition of the container, one of the dotted lines showing the chargingposition of said container and the other dotted line illustrating thedischarging position of the container. Fig. 2 is a vertical section,partly in elevation, the plane of the section being indicated by thedotted line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through theoperating mechanism for opening the valve when the container assumes theupright position wherein the materials are mixed. Figs. 4 and 5 aredetail sectional views, partly in elevation, ilhmtrating different formsof deflectors by rected in difierent paths within the lower part of thecontainer. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another embodiment of theinventionwherein the cover is movable with respect to the container.Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

A designates a container, herein shown as a vessel comprising an uppercylindrical moved, after chargin into a normal position, thus admittingt e fluid at the time required to efi'ect the agitation of theingredicuts; a cover cooperates with the container I in order topreclude the fluid admitted by the valve from ejecting or blowing outthe sel is open at its upper end and it is mounted for tilt-ablemovement by trunnions bb se cured to the opposite sidesof the vessel Iabove the conical part a thereof. The trunnion b is solid, whereas theingredients, but at the same time the air or gas is free to escape fromthe conta ner through a suitable vent so that the contalner is notsealed at the period of admitting the agitating agent, or in fact at anyother which may be stones of any practicable size.

which the agitating fluid is dition of a mixer embodying my invention,the

part a and a lower conical part a. The ve'sother trunnion l 1 0 1'5 thispart of the structure may be varied stuflin'g box D: is provided betweentrunnion -The trunnions are supported in bearings '0 7X- i's tubular soas to produce a passage 0.

provided on a supporting frame, herein shown as consisting of sidemembers B attached toa base One of the side members ,i'sprovidedwith abracket (Z to which is attached the casing e of a valve E, said valvebeing herein shown as a turning or plug valve although it is evidentthat any other form of valve maybe employed. The valve body 6 isprovided with a passage e for the flow of steam. air or gas through thevalve when the latter is opened. Suitable means are providedfor'coupling a pipe or hose to the valve body, but as the details ofwithin wide limits, I have not considered it 1 necessary'to illi1strate'the pipe or hose for feeding a-ir, gas or steam to the container.

C-isa pipe attached tothe container so as to be movabletherewith. Asshown, this pipe is positidned exteriorly to the conical part a of thecontainer,- the lower end of said pipe having an elbow 0 which, is attached' to the lower extremity of, said coni- CaLmember' a forming apartof the" on-' -tainer' A.' The upper end of the pipe;

attached to trunnion b so as to communicate with the passage c'therein.-The body eof the pipe C.

the valve is connected with-the hollow trunnion bby a pipe D, one end oiwhich is attached to the valve body-e-soas to communicate with thepassage 6 therein, whereas the other end of said pipe 1) isreoeivedwthin the passage 0v of theihollow' trimnion." A

b and pipe'D s'oastominimize the leakage of the agitating fluid whichis-supplied from.

the, valve throughflthe hollow 'trunnion: to

It is apparent that pipe is attached 'to the tank and. the hollowtrunnion for [movement therewith when the hopper is tilted either to thecharging position or to the discharging position, whereby the pipe isretained at all times in an operative relation to the tiltablecontainer. Provision is thus made for-supplying the agitating fluid tothe ldwer part of the container when,

the valve E is open.- but normally this valve is closed inorder to cut0d the flow of the agitating fluid into the container. said valve beingopened only w'hen the container assumes theupright position of Figs. 1and 2 subsequent to the deposit of the materialswithin said container.

Suitable means are provided for imparting a tilting movement to thecontainer.

\Vhile various devices may be used for this purpose it 1s preterred toemploy hand-operated mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2.

The solid trunnion 7) extends. through its bearing 0' in the frame andto the protruding endof this solid trunnion is secured an internal gearsegment F. the same being shown as having a flange f provided with gearteeth on the inner edge thereof. With this internal gear segment meshesa pinion F. 'the same being secured to a short fwhich. is provided witha hand-crank F said short shaft bein journaled in a bearing of a bracketor hanger f secured firmly to one of the side members B of the mainframe.

G designates a cover which is separate from the container A and issupported in a fixed position on the upper part of frame B. The covercloses the open upper end of the container when'the latter is in theupright position shown in the drawings, the main function of said coverbeing to prevent the piece of metalthe curvature of which is concentrictothe axis of movement of the tiltable container. The upper open end ofthe container is curved on an arc concentric to that of the cover C. andwhen the container isint-he upright position the upper edge of saidcontainer fits close to the under surface of the curved cover.

The container is not sealed when in the upright position and incoiipcrative relation to the cover but. on the' contrary. said cover isprovided with a vent opening 9 so that in the mixing position thecontainer is opento the-atmosphere. This vent g is surrounded by a venttube G within which is secured a battle g whichis positioned directly.over the vent opening 9. It is apparent that the air or steam suppliedto the lower part of the container is free to escape through the opening9 and the tube-G. but the cover Grand the baffle a minimize the outflowof any of the materials present in the container under the pressure ofthe agitating fluid supplied by pipe C to the bottom part of thecontainer.

lVhile various forms of means for automaticall opening the valve may beemployed. I prefer the mechanism sho 'n in Figs. 1. i2 and 3 of thedrawings. one of the side frumes'B is provided with a bearing f rhorizontal rocksh: ft 11 the end of which project beyond the bearing".Ar one end of this rockshaft is secured. a lever arm 1 by means of a hei. said lever arm being provided with an anti-friction roller 2" whichis in the path of a cam plate K. Said camplate is fixed in any suitableway to the outside of container A. said plate being shown as havinginclined edges 76 and an operative top edge is. as shown in full anddotted lines in Fig. 1. On the other end portion of the rockshaft.H issecured another lever arm J, the latter bein made fast with therockshaft by a key j, sai lever arm J being provided with a bent end j.Fitted loosely on the rockshaft is an arm L which is positioned quiteclose to the lever J so that the bent end j of said lever J will'contactwith the loose arm L. This arm L is attached to adepending valve rod M,the lower end portion of which is pivoted by a pin m to a crank arm m ofvalve E. Said valve is held normally in a closed position end of whichis fastened to a lug 0 of the valve rod M, whereas the other end of saidsprin is anchored on the frame by a-fixed pin 0 said spring acting valverod M and for closing valve E.

The elbow end of 0 of the pressure pipe C is connected in any suitableway with the lower extremity or apex of conical section a forming a partof the tank or container. Said pipe may be so positioned that the air,steam or gas will point toward the center of the mass Or the pipe maydischarge the agitating agent toward one side of the tank, as shown inFig. 2. Furthermore, a deflector P may be positioned within the lowerportion of the tank and opposite t the outlet from the pipe, saiddeflector consisting of members spaced to roduce openings 1, as shown inFig. 4, w ereby the deflector acts to distribute the inflowing steam orair in different directions Within the tank.

Again, the deflector Q may be positioned turning lever J so its withinthe lower part of the tank opposite to the outlet from the pressurepipe, as shown in Fig. 5, said deflector Q having downwardly convergingside walls which are substantially parallel tothe walls of the containerbottom a. These different modes ofdirecting the inflowing agitatingagent so distribute the steam or air as to attain the best results inmaking mixtures of aggregates of various sizes or weight.

he operation is as follows :-The container or tank A is turned to thedotted linev position toward the left in Fig. 1 in order to swing itsopen upper end beyond the closure G, at which time the materials to formthe mixture are dumped or otherwise deposited into the container. Thecontainer having been charged it is swung back to the upright positionbeneath the closure G, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, andduring this movement of the container one edge In of cam K contacts withthe roller 2' of lever I, thereby rocking shaft H and with the looselymounted arm L. This arm is operated during the return movementof thecontainer to the upright-position for the purpose of lifting the rodbent end j engages M against the.

returns to a normal position below the cover.

he steam or air is thus supplied to the lower part of the container soas to flow upwardly through and as a result of this 0 eration the materials are agitated to such an extent as to mix them thoroughly withina very short space of time. The inflowing agitating agent has a tendencyto lift the materials within or blow them out of the container throughthe upper openend thereof, but the escape and waste of the materialpreeluded by cover G and baflle 9' within the vent tube G, said venttube aifording a free outlet at all times for the agitating agentsupplied to the container. terials having been mixed the container isturned in an opposite direction and to a discharging position, asindicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, whereby the mixedmaterial is discharged through the open end of the container, saidmaterial flowing bygravity from the container. The operator now turnsthe gear in an opposite direction so as to restore the container, first,to a normal position below the cover and then to swing the container tothe charging position indicated in dotted lines, but dur: ing the returnmovement of thecontainer the valve mechanism is not operated, for thereason that the other edge 7c of cam K acts on the arm I and shaft H soto turn the bent end of arm J away from the loosely mounted arm L whichcontrols the valve, as a result of which operation of the container to acharging position withdraws arm J to a position where it will not actupon the valve mechanism so as to open said valve. The container havingbeen returned to a charging position the operations of depositingmaterial therein and of mixing and discharging'said materials arerenewed.

It will be understood that any suitable agitating agent may be suppliedto the interior of the container, for the purpose of mixing thematerials therein. In this connection it is desired to call attention tothe fact that steam or other heated agent :mrv be supplied to the mixerfor the purpose of mixing and heating the materials in low temperatures.This is particularly useful in preparing and installing concrete duringcold weather, under which conditions t e ordinary mixer cannot be usedto advantage.

the materials therein,

the return rt-ho frame so that the container is' movable relativethereto; but when the -invention is to be embodied in a machine ofincreased capacity, a larger container is employed,- it 'being.desirable, to increase thecross sectional area of saidconta nerv ratherthan the .iver

t-ical dimensions thereof. Under. such oi-rcumsta'nces, it preferred toemploy .a cover which, instead ofhaving a fixed relation tothe-.eontainer, is mounted for movement with "respect. to: saidcontainer. Accordingly,-; the cover G. of Figs. 6 and 7 issupi'rt-(liDQI' open at theupper end, means forsupplying anagitntingagent under pressure to ported. for movement simultaneously withthe-container, and preferably the cover.

swings' in' are-opposite direction to that in which the container itselfmoves. Said fcover G' is carried by parallel arms S S whichare fittedloosely on the trunnions b b,

"of the container, one of saidarms being formed with a gear segment T.The trunnion b is provided with another gear segment ,T', theilatberbeing in opposing or fac- -ing'-r el ation .to the segment ,T. A shaft Vis journaledjna suitablebearing on the side frame B, said shaft beingpositioned inter. .mediate the facinggear-segments TT. and

secured-rigidly tothis shaft is agear pinion .U,the teeth of Whichare inmesh with the gear-segments as shown. "Suitable means are provided foroperating the shaft; a hand crank .u' is shown for. this. purpose,although evident that the shaft may be turned by power if desired.

1 posite-directions to each other, and thus't-he movement of. :thecontainer in one direction and to a charging position. will result in amovement' of cover G' in an opposite direc tion so as tofully uncoverthe open end of the container and permit the materials to be depositedtherein. Of course, the back ingfposition will be followed by a returnof the, cover G. to a position over the container 'so as to prevent thematerials from being blown out of-the container when theagitating-agentis admitted thereto.

and embodies the several features of the invention as, herein shown anddescribed.

Having thus fully described the invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by.

Letters Patent, is:

.' LA mixer embodying a pivoted con-' (11s apparent-thatiby turningtheshaft, U in one direction, the gear segments T T will}.. be turnedsimultaneously and in op-- and a pressurepipecoimected with saidhol- Inall other respects the mixer of Figs. 6

bottom portion thereof, said lcont ainer't-hem ing movable to a chargingposition and to a discharging position without disconnect ing saidsupply means.

3. A mixer embodying a tiltable con- :tainer, means for-supplying anagitating agent under pressure tojsaid-container, and

-.a cut (at controllable by the-tilting movement of the container foropening and closing said supply means. v

- 4:. A mixer. embodying a pivoted 0on said containen-gand .a' closurefor said open end of the containensaid' container :he'rngmovablerelativeto said closure. p

5.- A mixere'mbodying a pivoted con .tainer open at the upper end, meansfor supplying an agitating agent to said c011 miner. and a closure forsaid'open-end of :the container, said closure being provided with anormally open vent, whereby the closure prevents the materials frombeing blown out of the container by the action of said agitatingagentand the latter is free @to escape through said-vent, said containeribeing movable relative to the closure for as suming charging ordischarging positions.

, 6. A mixer embodying a pivoted con- :tainer, means movable with thecontainer for supplying an agitating agentto the in- !terior of saidcontainer, and Valve mechanism controllable by the movement of said container "for admitting the agitating agent :t-he/reto when it occup es a.substantiallyuprright position.

LA mixerembodying. a container pro-- widedwith trunnions for ivotallysupportiing it, one of said trunni nsbeing hollow,

ilow trunnion and with .t-he'bottom'portion of said container so as tosupply'an agiand the pipe to the interior'of the container at the bottomportion thereof;

8. A mixer embodying a container providechwith trunnions for pivotallysupporting it, one of said .trunnions being hollow,

' a pressure pipe connected to said hollow trunnion and to the containerfor suppl ing an agitating agent tosaid container, and

. a valve operable by the pivotal movement of said container forcontrolling the flowof the agitating agent tosaid container. v

9. A mixer embodying a tiltable container, means unitary. with saidcontainer for supplying thereto an agitating agent under pressure. saidcontainer being movable -from a mixing position to a charging positionand to a discharging position. a valve for controlling the flow of theagitating agent to said container, and operating means for said valve,said operating means being actuated by the movement of the containerfrom'its charging position to a 'tating agentthrough said hollowtrunnion wardjmoremcnt of the container to'a mixmixing position andbeing idle when the container moves into and out of its dis'- able froma mixing position to a charging positlon and'to a discharging position,a

valve for controlling the flow of the agitating agent-to said container,and valve operating means including a cam movable with the container anda plurality of levers one of which is connected with the valve andanother is in the path of said cam;

11. A mixer embodying a tiltable container, movable to a chargingposition and to a discharging position, valve-controlled means unitarywith said container for supplying thereto an agitating agent underpressure at a period when said container occupies a positionintermediate said chargand discharging posltlons, and means fordistributing the agitating agent in different directions within thecontainer.

12. A mixer embodying a tiltable container movable successively tocharging and discharging positions, valvecontrolled means unitary withsaid container for supplying thereto an agitating agent under pressureat a period when said container occupies a position 'intermediatesaidcharging and discharging positions, and a deflector positioned oppositeto the outlet from saidsupply means for distributing the agitating agentin different directions within said container. I

13. A mixer embodying a tiltable container movable successively tocharging and discharging positions, valvecontrolled means unitary withsaid container for supplying thereto an agitating agent under pressurewhen said container is in a mixing position intermediate said chargingand discharging positions, and abaflie positioned within the containerand a over the outlet from said supply means for precluding the entryofmaterials into the supply means. 14. In a-mixer, the combination of atiltable container open at the upper end, a closure for said open endofthe container, said closure being disconnected from the container andthe latter being movable relative to said closure for; assumin chargingand discharging positions, said 0 osure havmg a normally open vent, aninlet plpe for supplyingan agitating agent to the bottom porthe vent.

tion of said container, and a baflle in the path of the agitating agentescapingzfrom 15. In a mixer,,the combination with a t1ltablecontainer,'and a pressure pipe connected therewith, of 'a valve forcontrolling the flow of an agitating agent through said pipe, a rock armlinked to the valve, a' valve operating member on the containen-a secondrock arm in the path of said 'valve 0 ratingmember, 'and-athird arm 0rated by the movement of the second roe arm and cooperating with thefirst rock arm for.

opening the valve when the container moves from the charging position tothe mixing position. I

16. Ina mixer, the combination with a tiltable container and means forsupplying an agitating agent thereto, of a closure for said container,said closure being movable simultaneously with the movement of thecontainer. v a

17 In a mixer, the combination with a tiltable container and means forsupplying an agitating agent thereto, of a plvotally supported closurefor said container, and means operating to impart movement to the.closure simultaneously with the tilting move-. ment of the container.'18. In a mixer, the combination with Ca tiltable container and meansfor supplying an agitating agent thereto, of a ,pivotall'y supportedclosure for said container, and operating means coiiperating withtheflcontainr and the closure for imparting'move: ment to the closure inan opposite direction to the container and simultaneously therewith.

19. A mixer-embodying a container pivoted for movement successively tocharging and discharging positions, means unitary with said contamerfor'supplying a mixing agent thereto, and a'cut oii cooperating wlthsaid unitary supply means and controllable upon the pivotal movementof-the container for admittingthe mixing agent when said container is 1na position intermediate the charging position and the dischargingposi-In testimony whereofI-liave myname to thisspecificationfin the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses H. I. BEMBORD, M. C. Ronmc'u'nz.

KARL. n. sonus'rna;

